Animal cruelty investigators are trying to figure out what happened to a cat that was found suffering from multiple fractures on the Downtown Eastside.
A concerned citizen noticed ‘Eve’ was in extreme distress and turned her over to the SPCA earlier this month.
It turned out the cat had two broken legs and her fractures were several weeks old.
She underwent surgery on Christmas Eve, earning her the new name.
The complicated and expensive procedure that involved bone graft was sponsored by the SPCA and the animal care fund established by the Canada West Veterinary Specialists.
“Because of the injuries involving two legs, we had to stabilize those fractures pretty securely to allow her to get around comfortably,” says Dr. Michael King with the Canada West Veterinary Specialists. “Also, because they are two weeks old, it takes quite a bit to get down to the fractures and get them together.”
Two plates were inserted into each of Eve’s legs to help hold the bones together.
King says Eve’s prognosis is excellent after the surgery.
“She is already using the leg pretty comfortably, and I expect her to get back to leading a full, happy life, running and jumping around.”
He says Eve is a very special and resilient cat, which was part of the reason SPCA decided to go ahead with the surgery.
“Because of what a great cat she is, she is not going to have any problems finding a new home.”
Eve will be available for adoption after she recovers, which is expected to take six to eight weeks.
SPCA Animal Welfare Director Kim Monteith says they do not know who Eve’s previous owner was or what happened to her.
“It is up to our investigators do determine whether it was done on purpose or if this was an accident,” says Monteith.
She says the BC SPCA has been reaching out to the residents on the Downtown Eastside for years to provide help and support caring for pets.
Monteith says they encourage people to come and see them for help and never leave an animal to suffer.
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